Hitchhiker ID 9/7/09
Hi Crew,
<Hello Tony>
I'm trying to ID something in my tank that showed up on a piece of live rock that I recently purchased. I've been searching for a while trying to figure out what it is with no luck. It kinda looks like aiptasia but I'm
not 100% sure and wanted a second opinion.
<Not aiptasia, but appears to be another type of small anemone, Bob may accurately ID here.>
Also there is some white stuff kinda behind it that you can see in the pic.
Is that some type of sponge? I've never seen anything like it.
<Yes, likely a Clathrina specie of sponge, commonly called a Leather Sponge.>
Thank you in advance for your help.
<You're welcome. James (Salty Dog)>
Tony Watson

please help me tag these 8/30/2009
Hi!
<G' morrow Mr. G.>
I Googled long and hard trying to identify what this white cotton-like, flat hairy film is on my live rocks. I thought you might be able to help me identify them so I know what these may be symptomatic of. I hope the pics are clear enough for your perusal. Thanks.
Geoffrey
<These are Sponges, Poriferans... evidence of system stability and good husbandry on your part. See here:
http://wetwebmedia.com/SpongeIDF10.htm
and the linked files above.
Bob Fenner>

Unknown Critter..can you help me out 7/18//09
Hey folks!
<Daniel>
First time post here...Let me just say first that your site has provided me a wealth of information over the years.
<Ah good>
I recently (about 6 months ago now) started up a reef tank again (I had one going great when living in St. Pete FL but moved to Ohio 2 years ago to start Ph.D. work so I had to get rid of everything to make the move easier)...anyway...as I was saying, I started up again as I could not go without the beauty of reef tank (... it certainly helps relax me at the end of a school day!!) and everything appears to be doing ok...I really just have a quick question about this critter(s) that came attached to a piece of live rock and has been getting larger. I attached a pic...I want to say that it is a mushroom coral of some sort (or not..lol) but it appears to have several 'mouths' which I have circled here in yellow. They are not as prominent in this pic but throughout the day each of these 'mouths' open and extend the tentacles that surround them...I've looked WWM up and down yet I am still at a loss...if you could help me out that would be wonderful!....Thanks in advance!
Take care,
Daniel
<I can't quite make out much detail in this pic (am out traveling and my laptop may not have sufficient "pitch"/resolution, but this might be a combination of organisms... Perhaps a sponge with hydroids or other life living inside its body cavity... Would you please send along a larger file of better acuity? Bob Fenner>

Re: Please help with fish i.d.?/Now Algae ID 7/8/09
Dear Crew/James,
<Luke>
Hi again. Haven't seen the mystery fish since I last emailed you - occasionally I see a flash of sand as something bolts into the liverock when I enter the room, I assume this is him (or some other hitchhiker?) fleeing at my approach.
<Likely.>
Anyhoo, wanted to get your opinion on the algae in the attached pictures (I'm referring to the feathery, wavy stuff).
Cause for alarm?
<Not at this stage.>
It's spreading fairly quickly but not at an alarming rate; I don't know if the 3 Ceriths or 2 scarlet reef hermits (which I now know shouldn't have been added at all) are eating it. If it helps, tank is about 3 weeks old. I've looked through the algae i.d. FAQs but can't seem to match it up to anything there.
<I couldn't find any exact matches myself, but I'm guessing it could be a type of
Caulerpa or possibly Crouanophycus latiaxis. Bob or another crew member may be able to ID it.>
thanks again,
<You're welcome. James (Salty Dog)
-Luke

Hitchhiker ID: Rock-Dwelling Sea Cucumber -- 6/17/09
Hi again,
<Hello Elfrieda, Lynn here today.>
Another puzzler for me....6 months into the set-up of my 24gal Aquapod w/ metal halide light. It appears to be some sort of worm perhaps???
<Actually, what you're seeing is the feeding apparatus of a rock-dwelling sea cucumber/holothuroid. For more information, please start with the FAQ's titled 'Please help to ID: Sea Cucumber -- 6/1/09' and 'Anemone Id? Nope, It's A Cuke! 8/10/07', located at the following link: http://www.wetwebmedia.com/cukeidfaqs.htm . Please also note links within the two FAQ's.>
The second time I've seen it on the same rock....and the last picture is just before it disappeared.
<Nice photos!>
Thanks so very much for your time.
<You're very welcome>
Elfrieda
<Take care, LynnZ>

Re: Hitchhiker ID: Rock-Dwelling Sea Cucumber -- 6/17/09
<Hi Elfrieda>
Another look at this stranger....
<Neat!>
Its tentacles appear to be catching food and one by one are drawn into its 'mouth'.
<Good observations - that's exactly what it's doing!>
Thanks again,
<You're very welcome>
Elfrieda
<Take care, LynnZ>
<<A nice short video clip... that RMF doesn't know how to add to WWM...>>

Thick Brown Tubes Growing From Live Rock 6/17/09
Hello,
<Hi there>
Your site has been a wealth of information, thank you so much. It's been a good 12 years since I maintained a small 20 gallon reef aquarium in CA where I did water changes with sea water and enjoyed all the surprises that came along with it oftentimes. This year, as I embark on setting up a reef tank once again, I find there is so much more knowledge about reef systems and it's wonderful. I am having so much fun reading all the information online and learning so much.
<Great!>
I have an identification inquiry about some thick brown tubes that have grown from a piece of live rock covered with Star Polyps in my reef system.
<Are sponges of some sort... a burrowing variety/species... Not harmful>
Any input is greatly appreciated, thank you!
<Welcome. Bob Fenner>

Re: Interesting Hitchhiker: Pseudocorynactis, Hydroids, Foraminiferan -- 6/14/09
Lynn and company,
<Hello Roxanne, Lynn here again.>
Thank you so much! That Pseudocorynactis is really nice;
<Yes, indeed.>
there are more of them each day. They are indeed nocturnal; I should have mentioned that.
<No worries>
That sort of proves that I did not indeed get all Fiji rock though, right?
<Not necessarily>
Since Pseudocorynactis is from the Caribbean,
<Yes, and the Indo-Pacific region as well. See the following link for photos of Pseudocorynactis spp. in the Philippines:
http://www.poppe-images.com/images/search_results.php?keyword_mh=pseudocorynactis >
hmmm, so much for LFS ID's on rock!
<They could well have been right!>
Do I need to feed them at this point?
<Probably not -- especially if they seem to be multiplying.>
As for the little unknown things I call hydroids, I have attached a picture; it's the first photo ("hydroidperhaps). There are 2 in the center of the picture. They are linear, no tube I can see, and there are little dots along their length.
<Uh-oh>
They are so small - I took a rather grainy photo to try to get them in focus (they wave around a lot).
<I can see them and yes, those are unfortunately hydrozoans of some sort.>
Are all hydroids "bad" in our tanks? I know they sting (and especially me!), but other than that??
<Heeee! They're not bad if you want a hydroid tank! Seriously, I would not want these in my system. The good news is that sometimes they arrive on live rock and simply die out without any intervention. The bad news is that sometimes they don't. Hydroids can pack a wallop when it comes to stinging livestock and people so you really don't want them around. I'd go ahead and manually remove them with tweezers (or the like). Also, be sure to keep your nutrient levels low, so feed whatever livestock you have, sparingly. For more information, please see WWM, starting at the following FAQ page: http://www.wetwebmedia.com/hydrozoanfaqs.htm >
Then there is #2 photo here; is this a filtering holothurian?
<Nope, it's a harmless little foraminiferan, a Protist that feeds on particulate matter and possibly bacteria. Please see the following links for more information:
http://www.chucksaddiction.com/hitchodds.html
http://www.reefkeeping.com/issues/2003-07/rs/index.php >
Ignore the hermit crab. He was a bit of a mistake, along with his few friends. They came with an order of other fun stuff from IPSF,
<Love IPSF!>
which I mostly like. I didn't really want crabs, but didn't have the heart to do away with them.
<Good. If they become a problem, you can always give them away to a fellow hobbyist or possibly trade them for something at your LFS.>
Thank you so much!
<You're very welcome!>
Roxanne
<Take care, LynnZ>

Hope You Can Identify: Syconoid Sponges -- 6/12/09
<Hello, Lynn here today>
I am relatively new (2 months) to SW tank keeping and have a beautiful piece of LR with a few mushrooms. I've recently noticed that there are now several white fuzzy "stalks" growing from the rock. They don't move or retract, just slowly get bigger. I've also now noticed a few isolated one's on other rock. Any idea what they could be?
<Yes indeed. They're harmless, filter feeding sponges in the genus Sycon, also called Syconoid sponges or commonly known as pineapple or Q-tip sponges. For more information/photos, please see WWM, starting with the first FAQ at this link (as well as related links at the top of the page): http://www.wetwebmedia.com/spgidf7.htm >
I'm attaching a couple of pictures.
<Yes I see, thank you!>
Thank you.
<You're very welcome. Take care, LynnZ>